RO installation for flushing solutions

ABSTRACT

The RO installation for producing ultrapure water, preferably for medicinal flushing solutions, with a raw water supply conduit, which leads to a feed tank, from which a conduit with a pump leads to the primary side of an RO membrane, from where a concentrate circulation conduit leads back to the feed tank, and with a permeate feed conduit and a first permeate circulation conduit, which either extends to a permeate return conduit, which leads to the feed tank, or communicates via a further permeate circulation conduit with the secondary side of the RO membrane, and with a filtrate outlet conduit is characterized in that the primary circuit including the feed tank, the conduit, the primary side of the RO membrane and the concentrate circulation conduit and the secondary circuit including the secondary side of the RO membrane, the first permeate circulation conduit and the further permeate circulation conduit may be flowed through by a disinfecting and cleaning agent independently of one another, wherein a disinfecting agent conduit connected to a disinfecting agent container communicates with the first permeate circulation conduit and the disinfecting agent conduit is provided with a disinfecting agent pump and that the permeate return conduit includes a pressure holding valve with a bypass valve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject application relates to medical flushing solutions, and more particularly to a reverse osmosis (RO) installation for flushing solutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this development is to produce an economical, chemically and microbiologically ultrapure liquid de-centrally in situ as a base material for the use of medicinal flushing solutions from (pre-treated) tap water by the use of filter technology in order to achieve economic and application-technical advantages.

A verifiable liquid quality is to be achieved and the expense necessary for the purification steps and toxic substances is to be limited. An environmentally friendly technology and an intelligent evaluation of the data are to improve the service life of the components used or detect their wear in a timely manner.

Use of this development for other fields, such as liquid preparation for the laboratory, for biology and pharmacy as an ultrapure flushing agent or also as an additive medium for the production of medicines, cell cultures and the like is conceivable and practicable.

Medicinal flushing solutions are generally further processed from distilled water as the base material, which is produced centrally, in a central production process to make flushing solutions.

The regulative and normative requirements as regards the quality of the base material, namely water, are so high that it was previously not possible to produce verifiable flushing solutions, when required, in situ, e.g. in a hospital.

These are, on the one hand, the high microbiological requirements and, on the other hand, the necessary chemical requirements as regards the base material, namely water, which conflict with a verifiable and detectable, normatively required quality of the production in situ in accordance with requirements.

Laboratory water devices are available on the basis of reverse osmosis for producing liquid with a high chemical and microbiological purity but the lacking prevention for germ reduction and a non-verifiable test of the filter stages involved are considered to be disadvantageous.

A further significant requirement with the online production of a flushing solution is the necessary high availability of the devices.

A problem which is difficult to solve is to permanently minimise or preventatively to reduce the rapid microbiological colonisation within the filter stages or the water treatment. Minimisation and prevention are necessary because the filter stages exhibit only a limited germ retention by the primary and secondary sides. Water samples must therefore consequently frequently be removed and expensive microbiological tests performed as a quasi revalidation.

The filter stage used for the retention of the chemical components, preferably in the form of a reverse osmosis membrane, may also be diagnosed only with difficulty as regards potential extremely small ruptures. A conductivity measurement as the only verification of an osmosis membrane—as is used in the prior art—is not sufficient.

Germ reduction in water-conducting systems is conventionally performed physically and/or chemically. Large expense is incurred by reason of the toxicity, and the detection control after chemical disinfection because the smallest residual concentrations can result in serious harm to patients. Furthermore, the waste water is contaminated by the use of chemicals or biocides.

Thermal disinfection is frequently not sufficient to completely reduce germs and material stress and the premature ageing of the components used can also not be ignored. The basic disadvantage of thermal disinfection is, however, the low purification effect, e.g. of the primary side of a reverse osmosis membrane. It has transpired that, depending on the nature of the contamination present, compression or crustification of a coating that is present can be the result of thermal disinfection.

A combination of thermal and chemical should ideally be selected in order to achieve both a cleaning and also a disinfecting action. By reason of the resultant high effectiveness, a lower temperature would be necessary and the concentration of the chemical agent could be lower. Practice, however, reveals considerable difficulties as regards the transmembrane flow of a chemico-thermal cleaning solution from the primary to the secondary side of the reverse osmosis membrane because the high osmotic pressure opposes the transmembrane pressure.

The basis for perfect water quality is also high availability and also a reliable, controllable, chemical and microbiological retention rate of the filter stages involved. In the prior art, e.g. with reverse osmosis membranes, a conductivity measurement is performed, the informative value of which as regards the membrane quality can be criticised as inadequate.

Due to the aforementioned difficulties, filters with low service lives are therefore commonly used in practice which need to be replaced after being used for a short period of time.

The object of the invention are necessary improvements and therefore economical online production of ultrapure water for medicinal flushing solutions based on reverse osmosis with extremely low, normatively acceptable microbiological and chemical contamination without further checks at the place of use.

The necessary high availability of the devices should exhibit only a remote probability of failure in all measuring and control tasks as regards their intrinsic reliability in order to prevent catastrophic consequences for the patients under all circumstances and to perfectly control the quality or also the toxicity of the liquid produced within the guaranteed acceptance criteria.

This object is effectively solved in accordance with the invention in that to produce the ultrapure water the combination of a reverse osmosis membrane and at least one further, subsequent filter stage, for instance an Ultrafilter or sterifilter, preferably in the form of a capillary membrane is used.

The cleaning of the system or germ prevention and reduction is effected by the combination of a citrate-based disinfection and cleaning agent of low toxicity with a heating of the water. The primary and also the secondary side of the reverse osmosis are thereby to be disinfected or cleaned separately from one another by means of an additional pump, also without transmembrane flow.

The supply of the disinfectant solution and cleaning solution occurs highly advantageously without the assistance of the user to the secondary side of the membrane and can be distributed from there, as required, into the primary circuit also.

In order that an undesired, unintended supply of disinfecting/cleaning agent is prevented, the disinfection device includes a level-controlled glass chamber with forced ventilation in the inlet system which permits reliable media separation and is usable at the same time as an empty indicator for the disinfecting/cleaning agent supply.

In order to avoid dead zones and residues of cleaning agent, the membrane is inserted free of dead zones into the reverse osmosis module and the feed tank is thoroughly flushed in an annular manner at its inner wall surface.

Checking and securing the disinfecting agent freedom is effected by two mutually verifying conductivity measurements, by whose approval signal a permeate release valve can be switched.

The verification of the reverse osmosis membrane is effected with advantage substantially by a continuous measurement and a trend analysis of the retention rate and yield, i.e. the ratios of the conductivity values of the primary to the secondary side of the membrane and the ratio of the raw water used to the permeate volume. A standardised permeate flow is also determined.

The trend of the detected data with adjustable boundary values can thereby be controlled and displayed by means of different independent computers.

Prognoses relating to service operations or other quality and service life maintaining features can advantageously be derived from this information.

If a discrepancy occurs, an information, warning or alarm signal can also be generated and output, which gives the operator an indication of the worsening membrane quality.

For the purpose of a better overview, all process data for separating data determination and control are shown in the following table.

Maintenance of normative requirements is thus possible, as also is the control of the performance parameters of the osmosis membrane.

Altogether, the process data shown below are collected.

-   -   Process data     -   Maximum raw water inflow     -   Permeate consumption     -   Raw water consumption     -   Inflow temperature     -   Permeate temperature     -   Raw water conductivity     -   Permeate conductivity     -   Yield     -   Retention rate     -   Standard permeate flow     -   Pressure holding test Ultrafilter/sterifilter F1     -   Pressure holding test Ultrafilter/sterifilter F2     -   Disinfection detection     -   Chlorine content in the raw water     -   Water hardness     -   Optionally permeate and/or concentrate pressure

Electronics and software are implemented as an operating and protective computer system, the signals from which communicate and compare safety-relevant data with one another and thus prevent breakdown with the potential for danger.

All process-relevant data both from the operating computer and also from the protective computer are in principle gathered and optionally evaluated. The measurement results are sent from the operating computer to the protective computer and vice versa. Each computer compares the measurement results with its own and sends back a confirmation.

After the confirmation from the operating and safety computers, the data is written together with a check total into the trend data store, which can preferably be instructed in the form of an Eprom or also as another storage medium.

Specifically, the following data are important for the assessment and verification of the reverse osmosis membrane:

Monitoring of the Efficiency (Yield):

The efficiency of the reverse osmosis membrane is calculated from the ratio of the volume of the permeate to the volume of the supplied raw water.

$\eta = \frac{{{Qraw}\mspace{14mu}{water}} - {Qconcentrate}}{{Qraw}\mspace{14mu}{water}}$

-   -   η=efficiency in %     -   Q_(raw water)=amount of the raw water in L/min     -   Q_(concentrate)=amount of the water which contains the chemical         constituents in an increased concentration.

As a result of the monitoring of the efficiency, control, in particular, of the concentration of the low-solubility salts, such as potassium and magnesium salts on the primary side of the membrane, is possible. An increased efficiency indicates that less chemical constituents can be retained and/or a blockage of the membranes can occur.

For the purpose of precise determination, two flow meters (FM-raw water and FM-concentrate) are necessary, whereby one of these (FM-RW) is regularly volumetrically verified and thereafter the relative agreement of the two flow meters is checked and monitored by different computers.

In order that an exact volumetric check of the FM-raw water is possible, the liquids are fed into the feed tank with a calm flow via an annular gap.

Monitoring of the Retention Rate:

The average retention rate can, for instance, be calculated from the ratio of the permeate conductivity to the supplied conductivity of, for instance, the raw water or very generally the determined conductivity of the liquid on the primary side of the membrane.

$R = {1 - \frac{2*C_{permeate}}{C_{{raw}\mspace{14mu}{water}}*\left( {\frac{1}{1 - \eta} + 1} \right)}}$ R=current retention rate in % C_(permeate)=conductivity of the permeate in uS/cm C_(raw water)=conductivity of the raw water in uS/cm η=efficiency (yield) in %

-   -   Unit:dimensionless or %

The filtration efficiency and the concentrate on the primary side of the reverse osmosis membrane which is used can be assessed by means of the retention rate. The effective conductivity of the raw water and of the permeate are thus measured cyclically and the current retention rate is calculated therefrom. The mean value of the retention rates is calculated from n=values and stored. A retention trend is continuously observed. In the event of a decline in the retention rate, for instance of more than 10%, a procedure can be recommended and/or be automatically initiated. For instance, cleaning of the membrane, if necessary replacement of the membrane and/or chemical analysis of the permeate.

Permeate Conductivity:

The measurement results of the permeate conductivity are required to determine the retention rate. In practice, this measured value is used as the only quality feature to assess the reverse osmosis membrane.

In order to make a determination in a first error-safe manner, three conductivity measurement devices can be used. Firstly, a conductivity meter in the raw water region or primary region of the membranes and two further meters in the permeate region, whereby the two conductivity measurement devices located in the permeate region are verified by different computers to a high relative conformity of more than 90% and the third conductivity measuring device in the raw water region is also checked for relative correspondence on the basis of the previously determined permeate conductivity and the yield with a calculated expected value.

Since the conductivity of natural water is temperature dependent, the indicated value is compensated with a factor of ca.2%° C.

Standard Permeate Flow:

For a supplementary verification of the membrane integrity, a standard permeate flow monitor is provided. The permeate output measured during a test cycle is in each case related to 15° C. and a fixed transmembrane pressure.

As a result of the monitoring of the standard permeate flow, the trend of the transmembrane flow can advantageously be observed for a longer period of time. The occurrence of deposits (fouling) on the reverse osmosis membrane or other factors which lead to impairment or changes in the filtration performance may be indicated.

As a result of the trend assessment, cleaning or other steps are predictable, if the standard permeate flow has decreased, for instance by 10 to 15%. Q _(pStd)=(Q _(rw) −Q _(c))*(1+(T _(p)−15)*0.02) Q_(pStd)=standard permeate flow Q_(rw)=raw water flow Q_(c)=concentrate flow T_(p)=permeate temperature 0.02=compensation factor (2%/° C.)

Implementation: The difference between the current raw water flow and concentrate flow is initially produced, i.e. the permeate volume is measured and the standard permeate flow at 15° C. is calculated therefrom.

Since the filtration output of the membrane is temperature dependent, an appropriate factor of 2%/° C. is introduced.

For the purpose of exact determination, two flow meters (FM-raw water and FM-concentrate) are necessary, whereby one of these, the raw water inflow meter (FL-RW) is regularly volumetrically verified. Furthermore, the relative agreement of the two flow meters is checked and monitored by different computers.

For the purpose of display, for instance all values are determined and recorded for a period of time which may be selectively determined, e.g. of 50 operating hours, this can correspond to the average operating time per week of an RO installation.

For the purpose of the recording itself, a running average is formed in accordance with the following formula: X

${\overset{\_}{X}}_{n + 1} = \frac{{n\;{\overset{\_}{X}}_{n}} + X_{n + 1}}{n + 1}$

-   -   where X _(n+1)=rolling average value over “n+1” values         -   X _(n)=rolling average value over “n” values         -   X_(n+1)=current measured value         -   n=number of the values already taken into account

For the determination of values between 2 measured values, a time period, for instance, of x seconds or only once per day is used.

Filter and Protection System

In order to ensure the microbiological quality of the permeate, there is advantageously an Ultrafilter or a Sterifilter on the primary side in the permeate circuit. A further Sterifilter can be used to improve the liquid purity downstream, directly at the extraction point. Liquid can with advantage flow over the primary sides of the filters and be cleaned.

Ensuring the filter integrity can be effected by a Bubble Point test. The Bubble Point test is based on the fact that the liquid is retained in the pores of the filter by the surface tension and capillary forces. The minimum pressure which is necessary in order to force liquid out of the pores is a measure of the pore diameter.

${\Delta\; P} = \frac{4*\sigma*\cos\;\theta}{D}$ ΔP=pressure difference in bar σ=surface tension of the liquid in N/m (water=72.75 mN/m) θ=contact angle between liquid and polyethersulfone: 65-70° D=pore diameter in μm

Implementation: The pressure on the filter is increased. At the moment at which a continuous discharge of air bubbles is to be seen the pressure is read off from the manometer. Since the surface tension, angle of wetting and pressure difference are known, a maximum permissible diameter of the membrane pores can be calculated by rearrangement of the equation and thus a conclusion drawn about quality.

A further preferred possibility resides in the conduct of a pressure holding test.

A leak in the filter or the membrane may be reliably detected by the automated pressure holding test. In this test, a leak in the filter is monitored by way of a pressure drop by means of a pressure sensor. This pressure drop is caused by transmembrane gas diffusion through the filter membrane. The pressure holding value is dependent on the membrane surface, i.e. from the filter volume, the gas diffusion flow through the membrane and on the test pressure.

${\Delta\; P} = \frac{D*t*P\; a}{V}$ ΔP=pressure difference in bar D=gas diffusion rate in ml/min t=time in min. Pa=atmospheric pressure (1.013 bar) V=filter housing volume in ml

In order to carry out the test, the filter membrane should be completely moist or the filter filled with liquid. For the pressure holding test, the filter is slowly acted upon on one side with a pressure and the liquid displaced. The basis of the pressure holding is that as a result of the hydrophilic membrane, when the membrane is intact no significant transmembrane air transport occurs. The pressure holding can be observed, for instance, for ca. 3 minutes. The pressure drop should not exceed a predetermined limit within this time. For the purpose of an exact determination, a pressure sensor is necessary whose zero point and gradient are regularly verified and checked by different computers.

A blocking valve is advantageously inserted at the filtrate outlet of the filter which stops the permeate flow to the place of use in the event of deviation from predetermined trend data or in the event of defective process data, such as defective conductivity and/or temperature. For the information of the user, corresponding indicator information and acoustic and also optical alarms can be triggered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a RO installation for flushing solutions.

FIG. 2 is a secondary circuit cleaning schematic.

FIG. 3 is a primary circuit cleaning schematic.

FIG. 4 is a flow plan RO with mixing installation schematic.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a disinfection and cleaning unit.

FIG. 5b is a cross-section of the disinfection and cleaning unit.

FIG. 6 is a feed tank inflow schematic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the underlying principle.

Further exemplary embodiments and an indication of possible variants and extensions are shown in FIG. 1 at the same time. Detailed information is given in more detail in the subsequent figures.

The liquid is conducted via an optional pre-filter (1) to the RO installation (2). In the inlet region of the RO installation there is a water inlet valve (5), an inflow flow meter (7) and an inlet conductivity meter (6). The supplied liquid flows via a float-controlled inlet valve (8) via the feed container (9), which is equipped with filling level sensors for determining when it is empty and for filling level control (9.1, 9.2, 9.3).

The float-controlled inlet valve is constructed in the form of a membrane servo valve, the servo bore of which can be closed by extremely low buoyancy forces, that is to say very small float volumes, and thus controls the filling level. There is furthermore the possibility of interrupting the servo flow by means of an electromagnetic valve 8.1 in order thus to prevent the inflow. The liquid can thus reach the feed tank (9) without significant power loss.

The feed tank includes an overflow with a detector (10).

The pump (11) conveys the liquid to the RO membrane (12), whereby the retentate is conveyed on via the flow throttle (13) with high pressure bypass valve (13.1) to the concentrate circulation conduit (32).

In order to maintain a relatively high overflow on the primary side (12.1), the retentate is conveyed back into the feed tank (9). In order to adjust the efficiency, the outlet flow meter (15) is provided, which, together with the inflow flow meter (7) determines the efficiency calculation by means of the derivation set forth above.

Excess retentate volume or the retentate volume determined from the result of the efficiency calculation is conducted via outlet valve (16) to the discharge (17) and is discarded.

In order to reduce the particles and germs in the retentate flow and for the purpose of decontamination, an optional centrifugal chamber (14) with a cleaning chamber (14.1) is provided. The particles in the retentate are conducted by the centrifugal force to the base of the hopper, collected there and flushed to the discharge (17) with the outlet valve (16) open. In order to improve the flushing process, the high pressure bypass valve (13.1) can be briefly opened in order to achieve a surge-like flushing process.

Decontamination or an influence on the low solubility calcium and magnesium salts can be so effected by means of a cleaning chamber (19)—of the same construction as the cleaning chamber 14.1—, which acts on the liquid by means of voltage pulses or magnetic field effects, that deposition of the same on the primary side (12.1) of the membrane is substantially prevented.

The permeate which is produced is registered by the permeate conductivity monitor (22). Alternatively, a second redundant conductivity measuring cell (23) can also be used.

The permeate released by the conductivity measuring cell (22) is conducted through the Ultrafilter/Sterifilter (25) and the permeate release valve (24) to the filtrate outlet (49).

The permeate flow occurs via conduit (28) either via pressure holding valve (31) and feed tank (9) or by means of permeate circulation pump (30) via conduit (29, 44) in a circuit. As a result of the permeate circulation, liquid flows completely over the primary side of the filter (25) and it is freed of particle residues.

In order to produce a permeate pressure, a pressure holding valve (31) with bypass valve (31 a) is used. Excess permeate flows via conduit (50) back to the feed tank (9).

A chemico-thermal disinfection begins with the pump (33) sucking in citrate-containing concentrate from cleaning agent canister (34). The valve (37) is open and flushing valve (35) and forced aeration valve (38) are open. Aeration valve (38) is open with the power off and can be constructed in the form of a spring-loaded hose clamping valve or a lifting valve. The filling level sensors (36.1 and 36.2) attached to the glass protective chamber (36) monitor the suction process and thus also the filling level in the cleaning agent canister (34).

When the pump (30) is running, the disinfecting/cleaning agent is circulated until a predetermined conductivity is achieved. The conductivity concentration can be monitored by means of the measuring device (22). It will be understood that in order to receive the additional liquid valves to the outlet (43) or to the feed tank (31 a) are to be briefly opened.

The liquid is heated to the desired and pre-set temperature by means of heater (20) and control sensor (21). A chemico-thermal disinfection of the entire ultraclean secondary region (44, 28, 29) up to the permeate outlet (46) is thus selectively possible. The reverse osmosis membrane is wholly cleaned and disinfected via the connections (29, 44) in the ultraclean region.

If required, heated liquid can be conducted to the primary circuit via the opened bypass valve (31 a) in order to reach the necessary temperature. As soon as cleaning solution is conducted by means of disinfection device (27) via feed tank (9) into the primary circuit (12.1) of the membrane, the transmembrane flow is interrupted. Pump (11) circulates the primary circuit (84, 12.1, 32, 9) and cleans or disinfects all of the liquid-conducting components in this circuit. After termination of the chemical-thermal disinfection, a flushing clear process can be initiated until conductivity cell (22) and (23) are indicated as being free of disinfecting agent.

During the flushing free process, flushing valve (35) is open in order also to flush free the entire disinfectant-containing conduit of the disinfecting unit (27).

In order to prevent a subsequent, unintended supply of disinfecting agent into the permeate circuit (28), aeration valve (38) is opened and the level in the chamber (36) is monitored. Reliable prevention of an unintended disinfection is thus ensured.

In order to monitor the integrity of the filter (25) or (42) or its membrane, the liquid is forced on the secondary side to the filter (25) and on the primary side to the filter (42) by means of air pump (39) with an optional air suction filter (40). Pressure holding is thus achieved, determined by the hydrophilic character of the membrane, and monitored or registered by means of pressure sensor (45).

(4) indicates only indicatively and by way of example the electronic system, which is constructed in the form of an operating and protective system. A possible addition is also shown in FIG. 1 to the effect that, for instance, a concentrate of a completely ready-for-use flushing solution produced in situ is added in a metered manner by metering device (41), whereby this flushing solution could additionally be filtered in a sterile manner before use by means of filter (42).

In order to explain the cleaning processes, FIGS. 2 and 3 are attached.

FIG. 2 shows the cleaning process of the ultrapure region (44, 28, 29, 12.2) by means of the chain line. The high pressure pump can advantageously be switched on during this cleaning process. The circuit is filled with cleaning agent until a predefined conductivity is reached by means of the disinfecting and cleaning unit (27). During the increase in concentration, valves (24, 43) can briefly be opened.

The permeate circulation pump (30) overflows the circuit so that at the same time disinfecting agent liquid is heated to a predefined temperature by means of heater (20).

The heated disinfecting agent liquid can be bled off to the permeate outlet (46) via the optional sterifilter (42) in order to disinfect this section also.

FIG. 3 shows the hot disinfection of the primary circuit (84, 12.1, 32). Permeate heated by means of heater (20) is firstly conducted into the primary circuit (84, 12.1, 32). During this cycle, the cold liquid can be conducted via valves 16 to the outlet. Disinfecting agent is then conducted via the open bypass valve (31 a) to the feed tank by switching on the disinfecting agent unit (27) and by being conveyed by the pump (33) in order to increase the concentration of the primary circuit.

The level in the feed tank is advantageously previously reduced, for instance from 9.3 to 9.2, in order to supply a defined volume of disinfecting agent. Since the membrane (12) is impermeable to the disinfecting agent due to the reversed osmotic pressure, the ultraclean primary circuit is not contaminated by this process.

The high pressure bypass valve (13.1) is open for the duration of the disinfection in order to produce as low as possible a transmembrane pressure. Outlet valve (16) remains closed for the duration of the hot cleaning.

The flushing out process is effected by switching off the disinfecting agent supply, advantageously in two steps both for the primary side and also for the secondary side. Solution containing disinfecting agent is firstly conducted by the supply of fresh water via valve (5) to the outlet (17 or 46) until conductivity meter (22 or 23) reaches a predetermined value. After a brief standstill phase, which serves for disinfectant-containing solution to diffuse out of regions through which liquid flows poorly, a second flushing process is carried out until the predetermined conductivity boundary values are reached.

FIG. 4 shows in more detail the view shown schematically in FIG. 1 of a mixing installation. Released permeate flows through the permeate release valve (24) to a further heating and temperature control device (59, 60, 61, 68) and is heated to, for instance, body temperature, whereby the sensors (60, 20 a) can be constructed in the form of bimetallic sensors for temperature protection. The permeate is homogenised with a concentrate, which is not shown, and is added in a metered manner by means of the concentrate pump (63) in the mixing chamber (62). The concentrate can be connected to the concentrate bag connector (65) with the valve (64) open. The finished flushing solution can be monitored by means of conductivity measuring cell (23) and flows via sterifilter (69) and flushing solution release valve (72) to the flushing solution connector (71). When the flushing solution valve (70) is open, a flushing solution tank, which is not shown, is connected by means of a suitable connecting method. The further valves (66, 74) are provided for the purpose of flushing the respective concentrate connector (64, 65) and the filter (69) and the flushing solution valve (70 and 71).

FIG. 5 shows the construction of the disinfecting and cleaning unit (27), the function of which was already described in FIG. 1.

The chamber with protective device (36) is shown in the form of a glass vessel (36) with its beak-shaped electrodes (36.1 and 36.2) by means of which the filling level in the vessel can be monitored. Cable connector (79) has a potential electronic connection to the electrodes 36.1 and 36.2. Valve (38) is constructed in the form of a spring-loaded magnetic lifting valve, wherein in the unpowered state the return spring (77) presses the magnetic plunger (75) upwardly and thus allows the aeration (58) of the disinfection chamber (36). A hose clamping valve is possible and usable in the place of the magnetic valve (38) illustrated here.

In order to illustrate the compact construction, the prismatic disinfecting agent block (76) has the support for the cleaning pump (33), shown here in the alternative as a membrane pump, whereby a hose pump can alternatively also be used. In order to minimise the structural size, all connections of the disinfection and cleaning unit (27) are attached on and in this block (78).

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the continuous, calmed liquid supply into the feed tank (9).

The raw water supply (52) is moved, when the float (51) is lowered, into the annular gap (57) by the V-shaped membrane (55) pressing onto it. As a result of the geometry of the annular gap-shaped raw water inlet (57), a uniform, non-turbulent liquid supply into the feed tank is achieved. Float (51) controls the inlet of raw water by means of float lever (53), which for the purpose of force transmission has its pivot point close to the servo bore (88) and the servo bore member (54). The level sensors (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) for filling level control and indication built into the float tube (87) and the electric valve for switching off the servo flow (8.1) are not shown.

Also not shown is the overflow with detector (10) described in FIG. 1.

The feed tank is in three parts in the inlet region and consists of the feed tank head, in which the water inlet valve (8) with its servo bores is inserted, the lid with the clipped in, annular return gap (83) for permeate and concentrate feed conduit, the feed tank pipe (81) and a bottom closure member, which is not shown.

LEGENDS

1. Prefilter 2. RO installation 3. Sterifilter extension 4. Redundant electronic system 5. Water inlet valve 6. Inlet conductivity meter 7. Inflow flow meter 8. Float-controlled inlet valve (with electronic switch off option, 8.1) 9. Feed tank with sensors for detecting empty and level control (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) 10. Overflow with detector 11. High pressure pump 12. RO membrane, 12.1 primary side, 12.2 secondary side 13. Flow throttle with high pressure bypass valve 13.1 14. Optional centrifugal chamber/14.1 Optional cleaning chamber 15. Outlet flow meter 16. Outlet valve 17. Discharge 18. Optional temperature sensor 19. Cleaning chamber 20. Optional heater with control temperature sensor 20a 21. Temperature controller 22. Conductivity measuring cell, permeate conductivity monitor with temperature sensor 23. Redundant conductivity measuring cell and temperature indicator 24. Permeate release valve 25. Permeate Ultrafilter/Sterifilter 26. Optional flow meter 27. Disinfecting and cleaning unit 28. Permeate circulation conduit 29. Permeate circulation conduit 30. Permeate circulation pump 31. Pressure holding valve with bypass (31a) 32. Concentrate circulation conduit 33. Cleaning agent pump 34. Cleaning agent canister 35. Flushing vavle 36. Chamber with protective device against unintended disinfection with two level sensors (36.1/36.2 37. Disinfection release valve 38. Aeration valve 39. Compressed air inlet, air pump 40. Air filter 41. Metering device for concentrate/flushing solution agent 42. Optional Sterifilter 43. Outlet valves 44. Permeate feed conduit 45. Pressure sensor 46. Permeate outlet 47. Sample removal valve 48. Post-filter 49. Filtrate outlet/consumer 50. Permeate return 51. Float 52. Raw water inlet 53. Float lever 54. Servo bore closure member 55. Hose-shaped valve-shaped membrane 56. V-shaped barrier 57. Annular gap-shaped raw water inlet 58. Disinfection chamber aeration 59. Temperature sensor inlet 60. Temperature safety limiter 61. Heater No. 2 62. Mixing chamber 63. Concentrate pump 64. Concentrate valve. 65. Concentrate bag connector with monitor 66. Concentrate valve flushing valve 67. Pressure sensor 68. Temperature controller 69. Sterifilters 69.1 Filtrate side 69.2 Primary side 70. Flushing solution valve 71. Flushing solution connector with monitor 72. Flushing solution release valve 73. Flushing solution outlet 74. Flushing solution bypass valve 75. Magnetic plunger 76. Coil 77. Return spring 78. Disinfection block 79. Cable connector 80. Feed tank head 81. Feed tank pipe 82. Feed tank cover 83. Feed tank permeate return annular gap 84. High pressure conduit 85. Flushing connector 86. Disinfecting agent supply 87. Float tube 88. Servobore 89. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A reverse osmosis (RO) installation for producing ultrapure water, comprising: a raw water supply conduit (1 a), which leads to a feed tank (9), from which a conduit (84) with a pump (11) leads to a primary side (12.1) of an RO membrane (12), from where a concentrate circulation conduit (32) leads back to the feed tank (9); a permeate feed conduit (44) and a first permeate circulation conduit (28), which either extends to a permeate return conduit (50), which leads to the feed tank (9), or communicates via a further permeate circulation conduit (29) with the secondary side (12.2) of the RO membrane; and a filtrate outlet conduit, wherein a primary circuit is provided including the feed tank (9), the conduit (84), the primary side (12.1) of the RO membrane (12) and the concentrate circulation conduit (32), and a secondary circuit is provided including the secondary side (12.2) of the RO membrane (12), the first permeate circulation conduit (28) and the further permeate circulation conduit (29), wherein both the primary circuit and the secondary circuit are configured to allow a flow therethrough by a disinfecting and cleaning agent such that the flow through the primary circuit is independent from the flow through the secondary circuit, wherein a disinfecting agent conduit (86) connected to a disinfecting agent container communicates with the first permeate circulation conduit (28) and the disinfecting agent conduit (86) is provided with a disinfecting agent pump (33) and that the permeate return conduit (50) includes a pressure holding valve (31) with a bypass valve (31 a), wherein the bypass valve (31 a) can be opened to provide flow of the disinfecting and cleaning agent from the first permeate circulation conduit (28) to the feed tank (9) without first entering the RO membrane (12), and wherein the bypass valve (31 a) can be closed to provide flow of the disinfecting and cleaning agent from the first permeate circulation conduit (28) to the further permeate circulation conduit (29).
 2. An RO installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the permeate feed conduit (44) leads to an ultrafilter or sterifilter (25), leading off from whose primary side is the first permeate circulation conduit (28) and going off from whose secondary side is the filtrate outlet conduit, which includes a permeate release valve (24).
 3. An RO installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that connected into the permeate feed conduit (44) there is a heater.
 4. An RO installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the permeate feed conduit (44) leads to an ultrafilter or sterifilter (25), and that communicating with the filtrate outlet conduit downstream of the ultrafilter or sterifilter (25) there is a metering device (41), by which the flushing solution agent is suppliable to the ultrapure water.
 5. An RO installation as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that downstream of the communication of the metering device (41) a sterifilter (42) is connected into the filtrate outlet conduit, going off from whose secondary side is a filtrate discharge (49).
 6. An RO installation as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that a permeate outlet (46) provided with an outlet valve (43) leads away from the primary side of the sterifilter (42).
 7. An RO installation as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that arranged in the filtrate outlet conduit downstream of the ultrafilter or sterifilter (25) is the permeate release valve (24).
 8. An RO installation as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the disinfecting and cleaning agent is citrate based.
 9. An RO installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the further permeate circulation conduit (29) further comprises a permeate circulation pump (30) disposed between the bypass valve (31 a) and the secondary side (12.2) of the RO membrane (12). 